The First World War: Society, Politics and Poetry

This online course is ideal preparation for students thinking of studying history at university, exploring an extremely important period of British history and encountering a range of historical methods in the process.

This online course is ideal preparation for students thinking of studying history at university, exploring an extremely important period of British history and encountering a range of historical methods in the process.

Course Summary

This course includes:

4 X Interactive Tutorials

Online quizzes and exams

Access to the course discussion forum

Course worksheets and case studies

ORA Certificate of completion

Overview

The ‘Great War’ has been described as a watershed moment in British society, sweeping away the social certainties of the Edwardian period. Its literature often portrays the collision of unquestioning patriotism and idealism with the disillusioning brutality of trench warfare. In this course we will examine the impact of World War I on British society and culture, exploring in particular the politics, ideology, and literature of the time. We will consider both traditional and revisionist interpretations, discussing the enduring power of myth and literature in affecting how the war has been remembered.

Emphasis will be placed on the use of primary sources in order to supplement the lecture material and bring it to life, and the course is packed with supplementary material including audio recordings, video, image sources, enabling students to gain a firm grasp of the concepts studied whilst also developing the skills required of a modern historian.

"Never such innocence again," wrote one poet, describing Britain before the Great War. In this tutorial we will examine the politics and culture of pre-war Britain, asking to what extent this was already a society in transition. We will also discuss the international context which led Britain into conflict.

When war broke out, many men, upper-class and working-class alike, viewed the prospect as a grand adventure and an opportunity to prove themselves. In this tutorial we will discuss reactions to the outbreak of World War I, considering how they illuminate Edwardian ideologies of masculinity. We will consider the impact of the public school ethos, Imperialism as expressed in popular books and magazines, and the 'white feather' campaign which sought to pressure men to enlist.

What was life really like for the men in the trenches? This tutorial will focus on the ways in which wartime experience was different from that of previous wars, discussing the impact of the mechanisation of conflict, the use of poison gas, and the brutality of trench warfare. It will also briefly outline the military history of World War I, highlighting major battles and campaigns.

It has been argued that World War I was a peculiarly 'literary' war, inspiring authors such as Robert Graves, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. In this tutorial we will discuss the war literature of the period, considering how it was shaped by wartime experience, how it reflected contemporary views of the Great War, and how it in turn has affected the way that both historians and ordinary citizens have remembered the conflict over the past century.

Key Details

Course Pre-requisites

Advanced level of EnglishAn interest and enthusiasm for history, with particular reference to European history This course would suit students studying towards A-level History or equivalent.

Course Level

For students applying to university to study history or related subjects

Difficulty

Moderate

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge is required to take this course, just enthusiasm for the subject.

study the social context in which the war began, with a particular look at life and opinions in Britain

discuss the ways in which the First World War revolutionised warfare and battlefield tactics

explore the rich body of literature that emerged from the war and how we view this today

Discuss the social and political environment before, during, and after the War

Appreciate the works of a variety of different writers and poets from the period

Apply historiographical methods, such as analysis of primary sources and their contexts

Course Author

Dr Sophia Woodley

Sophia Woodley has a DPhil and an MSt from Balliol College, Oxford and a BA from St Hilda’s College, Oxford. A specialist in social and cultural history, her doctoral thesis was titled “Go to school they shall not”: home education and the middle classes in Britain, 1760-1900.

Oxford Royale Academy is a part of Oxford Programs Limited, UK company number 6045196. The company contracts with institutions including Oxford University for the use of their facilities and also contracts with tutors from those institutions but does not operate under the aegis of Oxford University.

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